SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 17
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.’ [John 6:53-56]
After 400 years exposed to a variety of Egyptian religious practices, the Israelites must now radically reform their own practices.
Common to the religions of the day included regular sacrifices anywhere and everywhere to the multitudes of gods all around them, cultic sexual practices as well as blood drinking.
The people are warned not to participate in these practices.
An interesting reference to offering sacrifices to goat idols.
The root word ‘saiyr’ is related to the Greek and Roman Satyr (half man, half goat) which were associated with sexual immorality.
The goat is still associated with Satanism and the demonic today.
The people are warned against prostituting themselves with the goat idols.
Hmm, blood drinking. I would not think this was relevant today, but apparently it still is.
Check this link out for tips on finding and drinking blood.
Here we have God making it clear that they are not to participate in these demonic religious practices.
Blood is a symbol of both life and death.
They do not find life by drinking blood or by indulging in sexual immorality, but by living in fellowship with God, symbolized by the fellowship offerings at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.
Jesus fulfills this, as the One through Whom we gain access to God by His death and resurrection.
We can only find life in God, through Jesus.
His death and resurrection restores us to fellowship with God.
We do not literally eat and drink His flesh and blood, we symbolically take His whole life and death into us, and unite ourselves to Him, and therefore to God.
This symbolizes complete identification with Jesus, total oneness.
PRAYER:
Lord, help me to cling to You, to be one with You, to find my life in You!
Two things hit me this morning as I read the passage:
the offering to the Lord at the tent of meeting
don’t eat blood
The first once again signifies that Christ is central. All of my life I must proclaim the living God wherever I am. No longer just at the tent of meeting, but meeting Him wherever I am. All for Jesus. And if not, then I am not part of the family of God. Then too, I am cut off.
Blood is life giving. We know that. We receive blood transfusions in order to have life. But to have real LIFE, the REAL thing, we need the blood of Jesus Christ. His blood was shed so that I can live. No other sacrifice can do or will do.
I can only be part of the family through Christ, my Lord and Saviour. There is no other way.
A non Christian thinks he lives, but dies twice.
A Christian lives twice and dies once. Only by the blood of Christ to eternal living.
Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.
Refrain
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me.
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne.
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.
Living for Jesus Who died in my place,
Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all.
Refrain
Living for Jesus, wherever I am,
Doing each duty in His holy Name;
Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
Deeming each trial a part of my cross.
Refrain
Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.